Closing apparatus for hydraulic constructions, ships&#39; elevators, and the like



March 24, 1931. A. HUGUENIN CLOSING APPARATUS FOR HYDRAULICCONSTRUCTIONS, SHIPS' ELEVTORS, AND THE LIKE Filed DGO. 9, 1926 I, Ag lPatented Mar. 24, 1931 UNITED STATES ALBERT HUGUENIN, oP PARIS, FRANCE fCLOSING APPARATUS PP. HYDRAULIC coNs'rRUoTIoNs, SHIPS7 ELEvA'IoRs,

AIvD'IIIIeLIKn. u A

Application filed December 9, 1926, Serial No. 153,682, and inilfranceDecember 1 8, 1.925. l

The present invention relates to sluice gates for hydraulic works, shipselevators and the like, whose operation depends upon the difference inthe buoyancy of the gate itself 5 which is constructed in the form of afluidtight caisson.

The invention is characterized in that the gate consists of a watertightcaisson whose opening and closing movements are aiected by a differencein its buoyancy, this difference being obtained by supplying air to theinterior of the caisson in order to expel the water contained therein,or by producing a vacuum in the said caisson and thus increasing thevolume of water therein.

Horizontally pivoted sluice gates have been proposed in which the gateis raised or lowered by controlling the level of water in ballastchambers formed within the gate, in

2o order to permit intermediate positions, the

pivot being at the lower edge of the gate.

According to this invention the main motion of the gate is obtained by adifference of buoyancy of the caisson forming theA said gate, and beingalways either partially or fully immerged and in any way to the samerange on both its sides. This gate has only two positions either fullyopened or fully closed and is not at all designed for any intei-mediateposition. The caisson is formed by using only the outer part ofthesector and the radial faces extend but a small fraction from thecircumference to the pivot. Thus the caisson may be called segmental.

Gates have also been proposed with a constant buoyancy and two diierentpositions, one with stable equilibrium and the other with unstableequilibrium. To keep the gates oi this kind in unstable equilibrium anoutside force must be applied all the time.

Floating caissons have furthermore been proposed with very smalldifference of buoyancy, whereby the removing of the .caisson from theentrance of the dock is not obtained by this dierence of buoyancy, butby other means, the very small difference of buoyancy being just usedfor tightening the caissons against the sill.

-Shutters have also been proposed being on the one hand emptied from thewater by compressed air YorA completely illedwith water whenthev air ispermitted to escape. The shutters of this kind are never'imniergedbutone side is alwaysinthe air. 1 y

Thel appended, drawingsl show Vby -way loi example an embodiment of theinvention.

Fig. l is a lengthwise section of the gate. Fig. 2 is the correspondingplan View. The horizontally pivoted sluice gate is closed by a slidingmovement of the gate in a direction perpendicular (or nearly so) to theclosing surface by means of the eccentrics a which are mounted uponshafts or journals b, actuated for instance through the medium of theworm gear c by the motors d. The main body e of the gate consists of awatertight caisson of a segmental shape which is provided with suctionand discharge apertures f and whose interior is connected by a pipe gwith a compressor h. By means of the air compressor k, it is easy eitherto reduce the volume of the water in the caisson, by increas- Y ing theair pressure, or by withdrawing air from the caisson to increase thevolume of water therein; the buoyancy of the caisson is thus easilyregulated by the air pressure in the same. The lirst operation willincrease the said buoyancy of the caisson and thus raise the gate fromthe position shown in the dot and dash lines to the upper one shown infull lines. The second operation, by reducing the buoyancy of thecaisson will bring the gate downwards into the original position again.The abutments 7c and Z serve respectively to stop the opening and theclosing movement.

The cross-section of the caisson torming the gate is intentionallydissymmetrical with reference to its center line through the rotatingaxis. The direction of the torque acting on the gate is therefore alwaysthe same for the raising. On the drawing thus the buoyancy will in anycondition raise the gate from its lower position to the upper oneclockwise, never counter-clockwise. This safety device v is of course ofparamount importance.

The pipe g is connected by a flexible member of suitable construction,for instance as shown at g with the main body of the air compressor sothat the gate may be opened and closed without prejudice to the saidcompressor.

Having thus described my apparatus, what claim as new therein, and myown invention, 1s:

5 In asluicegatefor hydraulic works, ships elevators `ior the like, theycombination of a watertight caisson with water inlet and outletopenings and adapted to rotate around lo an axis of rotation,said'eaissonhaving in cross-section a dissymmetrical form with reference*to *the `'middle 'plane passing through the said axis of rotation, thusthe resultant uplift force ofthe buoyanyrgiving always in combinationwththe'ixi-d axis of rotation a l-r@ne .way-only storquerand .theshuttingoli of the gate openingbeingmade automatically in therightway. Y

In testimony whereof il have `hereunto af- ,30 xedmy signature. t

:ALBERT fHUGUENIN.

